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Emerging Technologies

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RAND played a pivotal role in emerging technologies throughout the 20th century, from satellites and computers to information-sharing systems, packet switching, and artificial intelligence. RAND now explores the policy implications of emerging technologies across a broad scope of areas such as patient outcomes and health care quality; energy and environmental standards; privacy; military weapon systems; and training teachers and students in the 21st century.

A broader approach is needed to better address the needs of millions of American victims of crimes like sexual assault, family violence, financial exploitation, gun violence, identity theft, burglary and stalking. And that's where Silicon Valley's tech community can step up.

The growth of telehealth requires oversight to ensure that these new delivery models do three things: provide high-quality care, improve access to those who need it most, and are utilized in a cost-effective manner.

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The Law Enforcement Futuring Workshop identified ten possible future scenarios and 30 high-priority technology needs for law enforcement based on consideration of current and future trends in society, technology, and law enforcement.

RAND's exploratory analysis of China's development and use of unmanned systems focuses on maritime unmanned systems, the roles China sees for them, Chinese development of unmanned vehicles, and uses for such systems in the East and South China Seas.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned RAND Europe to conduct a study of innovation models and make recommendations on changes the MOD could make to better harness and absorb innovation from external sources.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned RAND Europe to conduct a study of innovation models and make recommendations on changes the MOD could make to better harness and absorb innovation from external sources.

The need for purposeful and focused R&D in the U.S. has never been greater, but technology is advancing so quickly that the structures available to manage it have not kept pace. A comprehensive examination of the technological landscape is needed to help the government take a more holistic approach to investing in and regulating technologies.

With numerous data breaches and emerging software vulnerabilities, 2014 was the year the hack went viral. But realizing a few New Year's resolutions in 2015 could help defenders make strides in protection, tools, and techniques to gain the edge over cyber attackers in years to come.

With technology a persistent theme throughout RAND's biennial Politics Aside event, it was only fitting that the proceedings closed with a conversation on social media between Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony Pictures, and Evan Spiegel, the 24-year-old co-founder and CEO of Snapchat.

Policymakers should carry out a robust evaluation to assess the EU's research collaboration to date and its impacts. This review should also compare the EU's portfolio with the achievements of other players in international research. Such evidence would enhance the EU's research procurement strategy.

Horizon 2020, the EU's biggest research funding programme, allows the EU to play a central role in solving some of the world's grand societal challenges. This brief informs EU policy decisionmaking on research and innovation funding.

Developing clinical research in sub-Saharan Africa requires a more holistic approach that considers not only individuals and institutions concerned with clinical research but also the wider health and research systems in these countries.

While funding is the key problem, clinical researchers seeking to combat infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa cite the lack of policymaker understanding of the importance of their work as a major barrier, above lack of human resources and lack of infrastructure.

This report describes a new approach to identifying and evaluating technological emergence by analyzing connections among different technology areas using the definitions of technology areas set forth by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

An evaluation of the Wellcome Trust's African Institutions Initiative (AII) indicates several successes while making recommendations for the future. The AII funds consortia to build sustainable, independent health research capacity at African universities and research organisations, to promote research collaboration and to train individuals for research careers in Africa.

The "Internet-connected living room" poses security and privacy implications for industry and consumers, offering potential benefits as well as threats associated with the technical capabilities of living room connected devices.

A broader approach is needed to better address the needs of millions of American victims of crimes like sexual assault, family violence, financial exploitation, gun violence, identity theft, burglary and stalking. And that's where Silicon Valley's tech community can step up.

An overview of the 'mental models' methodology of communicating focuses on each step in the initial approach and offers a discussion of four specific challenges that a practitioner may face when implementing the approach and strategies for addressing them.

Given the growing volume of primarily civil technology that can both impact and be leveraged by defense and security capabilities, the UK Ministry of Defense sought insights into relevant future technology and innovation models.

To help the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) assess and harness wider investment in relevant technology areas, researchers examine a growing volume of primarily civil technology that can both potentially impact and be exploited as defense and security capabilities.

Adjunct Research Scientist

Senior Scientist

Cynthia Dion-Schwarz is a senior scientist at the RAND Corporation. Her interests include defense and intelligence community science and technology, research and development, and planning and acquisition. She has broad expertise in information technology and cyber operations. Prior to joining…

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